bluebird
sham... fwiw, i recommend that you go to the bar and sit at the bar if possible. if you have a bartender that knows beer, s/he'll know how to serve it (esp. temp).
there's so much that comes into play when drinking really good beer. how is it poured/pulled? what is the temp (this can be huge)? with what foods does it pair well (if eating)? how many beers do you expect to have, and what order should you drink them (this can be very important)?
anyway, a good beer sommelier (isn't there a word for this? i forget) will guide you through the process. just make sure they don't give you an experience that only they could appreciate.